Cairngorm GUided walks

Lochnagar 5 | Carn a’Mhaim | Ben Macdui 4 | Sgòr Gaoith | Mayar & Driesh | Cairnwell 3 | Glas Maol Circuit | An Socach | Mount Keen | Beinn a’Ghlo

Cairngorm National Park is the largest National Park (NP) in the UK and covers the Cairngorms range of mountains as well as surrounding hills. Established in 2003, a year after Loch Lomond & the Trossachs NP, it was also further expanded in 2010 into Perth & Kinross.

The Cairngorms has something to offer every walker, from lovely introductory mountain walks such as Mayar and Driesh in the South, through to tough, potentially multi-day, hikes like reaching Braeriach and its surrounding Munros in the centre.

Its famed plateaus can be a nightmare in high winds, and poor visibility and can test the most experienced hill walker’s navigation, but on a clear day the views down into remote glens and lochs are awe inspiring.

So why not join us for a walk in this fantastic area? Check out our guided walks in the Cairngorms below, and remember, if you can’t see the one you are looking for just ask us.

Lochnagar 5

Want to bag 5 Munros on one walk? Then this superb circuit in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park is the walk for you. As we take on

• Lochnagar

• Càrn a' Choire Bhòidheach

• Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr

• Cairn Bannoch

• Broad Cairn

The route affords us views across the Cairngorms and its extensive plateau, as well as into the coire of Lochnagar with the loch ‘Lochnagar’ that it's named after. Famed among climbers for classic rock climbs such as Eagle ridge, we will skirt the edge of the coire, leaving the climbers to the sheer faces. We also enjoy the beautiful Loch Muick on our route

Fitness: This is a long mountain day and a tough walk. Good hill fitness is required.

Location: Spittal of Glenmuick

Duration: 10 - 12 hours

Càrn a'Mhaim

We take on this lovely Munro in the heart of the Cairngorms, which affords superb views around to the surrounding peaks such as the Devils point, along the Lairig Ghru and up to Ben Macdui. The walk-in following the Glen Lui is easy-going, utilising good tracks and paths all while passing through beautiful woodland, over rivers and in an area surrounded by mountains. We can also detour (a few minutes) to pass one of the many Bothys tucked away in the area, as well as the old hunting lodge of Derry Lodge.  

Fitness: This is a reasonably long day on good tracks mostly but with a steep climb to the summit. Reasonable hill fitness is required.

Location: Linn of Dee

Duration: 6-8 hours

Ben Macdui Round

A different take on the northern corries Munros in the Cairngorm Nation Park. Often done in combination with Cairngorm, we will take on 2 more Munros alongside the original pair to bring the tally up to 4 for the day.  

• Ben Macdui

• Cairngorm

• Derry Cairngorm

• Beinn Mheadhoin

The round gives a great tour of the northern area of the Cairngorms including the hidden and stunning Loch Avon with the hidden Shelter stone. The views extend out to the Braeriach Ridge, into the central area of the Cairngorms, as well as onto the many impressive climbing crags we pass by.

Fitness: This is a long mountain day and a tough walk. Good hill fitness is required.

Location: Cairngorm Mountain Upper Cas Carpark

Duration: 9 - 12 hours

Sgòr Gaoith

Join us for this lovely walk in Glen Feshie and onto the Munro of Sgòr Gaoith. Beginning in the beautiful forest of Scots pines, we soon pop out into open hillside and take on a loop of the mountain and one of its ridges. This great walk gives us superb views from the summit down the sheer cliffs into the Coire Odhar and loch Eanaich below as well as across the Braeriach Ridge and further afield to the Monad Liath.

Fitness: This is a reasonably long day on good tracks mostly but with a steep climb to the summit. Reasonable hill fitness is required.

Location: Allt Ruadh Carpark

Duration: 6-8 hours

Mayar & Driesh

This pair of Munros is great for beginners as an intro into the hills and mountains of Scotland but don’t let the fact they are ‘beginner friendly’ put you off if you are more experienced. The outstanding Corrie Fee, which appears from nowhere after you walk through the forest, is spectacular to wander through and appears, at first glance, impenetrable.

After a tough exit from Corrie Fee, we head to the summit of Mayar which offers views across the Cairngorms. The going gets easier as we walk between the two summits with only a touch more ascent as we reach Driesh before descending Corrie Kilbo back to where we started.

Fitness: Beginner Walk - Great for those starting out

Duration: 4.5 - 6 hours approx.

Cairnwell 3 - The CairNwell, Carn Aosda & Carn a’Gheoidh

A classic beginner Munro trio to up your Munro bagging tally. Starting at the Glenshee Ski Centre, some of the ascent is done before you start, making these perfect for those just getting into mountain walking. Once up high, we stay relatively high all day with some great views back over the Ski Centre and along the Glen that the A93 goes through that you will have driven in on.

Fitness: Beginner Walk - Great for those starting out

Duration: 5 - 6 hours approx.

Glas Maol Circuit - Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol & Creag Leacach

A great circuit for those looking to ‘bag’ a few Munros in one go without doing a monster day. Utilising the higher ground of the pass near the Glenshee Ski Centre, the route starts high and keeps you up relatively high as you walk between the summits on a plateau.

Fitness: Beginner Walk - Great for those starting out albeit a tad longer distance overall than some of the other beginner walks.

Duration: 6.5 - 8 hours approx.

An socach

A great circuit for those looking to ‘bag’ a few Munros in one go without doing a monster day. Utilising the higher ground of the pass near the Glenshee Ski Centre, the route starts high and keeps you up relatively high as you walk between the summits on a plateau.

Fitness: Beginner Walk - Great for those starting out

Duration: 5 - 6hours approx.

Mount Keen

The most easterly of all the Munros, this single Munro is great for getting back into the hills, providing extensive views on a clear day.

With a good track all the way it’s perfect for those new to Munros or looking to get out and build up some fitness.

Fitness: Beginner Walk - Great for those starting out

Duration: 5.5 - 7 hours approx.

Beinn a’Ghlo

This massif made up of 3 Munros, Càrn Liath, Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain & Càrn nan Gabhar, is clearly visible from the A9 as you are driving north around Blair Atholl.

This strenuous but rewarding day starts normally by climbing up Carn Liath the first of the Munros before making our way along the ridges, maintaining most of the initial height gain as we walk across the massif. We descend via the Allt Beallach an Fhiodha eventually meeting a large track which we wonder back along 4 to 5km to the car park.

All in all a long day but great day in the mountains & 3 Munros ticked off.

Fitness: Solid day, good general fitness required

Duration: 8- 10 hours

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